Somedays I wish it was all a dream. I wish I could wake up to a reality where I don’t feel confused and stressed out. Like a river, stress can be both a source of life and a destructive force that erodes your footing. It is possible to ride the waves of stress without being … Read more
I don’t know what it is about sex that makes us blush when the topic is brought up. I once almost got into trouble for laughing uncontrollably in class while the topic of reproduction was being discussed in class. Anyway, apart from those awkward moments, I never really got anyone to educate me about sex … Read more
As a kid, I sucked my thumb. I only stopped when I started getting shamed for it. I don’t think I would have ever stopped by myself. Why should I? I believe this comes into play in many forms of addiction. If you’re addicted to smoking, society and health professionals can nudge you to stop. … Read more
Once upon a time, a friend had a crush on a lady I was having a secret affair with. I didn’t tell him because she didn’t want anyone to know, and I didn’t trust him to understand. He was head over heels in love, and I was trapped between betraying her and being honest. I … Read more
Look around and you will find reasons to throw in the towel. From your neighbourhood to your schoolyard, to your social media feed, there is a constant source of self-loathing and self-doubt. Friends’ galleries of accomplishments may remind you of how far you are from the finish line. Celebrities’ songs may make you feel socially … Read more
The desire to be liked is instinctive. We, as a species, evolved to pay attention to what other people think about us because in the wild we needed them – to like us – to survive. Even today, you still need people to like you to survive. So, worrying if you are liked or not … Read more
I grew up in a poor family in a bustling but economically impoverished neighbourhood of Lagos, Nigeria. With six of us living in one room (so you can imagine how cramped and exhausting it was). Sometimes, I would wake up to find myself under the bed, my face stained with charcoal from the blackened pots … Read more
Earlier this year, at the beginning of the academic session at the university, I applied for a space in the hostel and was allocated a room. I was quite hopeful for the new session and looked forward to meeting my new roommates. As anticipated, I had very nice roommates. Except, unfortunately, for my bunkmate, Annie, … Read more
I saw a meme a few days ago where a porcupine was admiring the smoothness of a snake. The porcupine said, “I hate these spikes. I wish I had her body”. Then, in the next frame, the smooth-skinned snake was picked up and carried away by an eagle. Seeing this, the porcupine said, “Thank you … Read more
As a new chess player, I made many mistakes. This was frustrating, and I would get discouraged whenever I lost to a more experienced player. However, looking back, I realize that my mistakes helped me improve my game. I learned to think more carefully about my moves and to consider more possibilities. Much like my … Read more
